Yahoo Sports Daily hosts Caroline Fenton and Jason Fitz react to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons and discuss what it means for their playoff hopes. Watch the full episode of Yahoo Sports Daily on YouTube or YahooSports.TV.
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Video Transcript
A team that had absolutely nothing to play for went out there and beat a team with their backs Against the wall, and the playoff picture in the NFC just got a little bit murkier for the Buccaneers.
Epic choke by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Everything that you just laid out, Tampa Bay is playing for everything.
The race in the NFC South is uncomfortably close if you’re in Tampa Bay.
That you had a two-score lead in the fourth quarter.
It was 2814 in the fourth quarter.
The Atlanta Falcons committed 19 penalties, nineteen penalties.
They were facing a 3rd and 28, then a 4th and 14.
And Kirk Cousins, Old Man Kirk, was able to march the Falcons down the field, To win that football game.
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I mean, it was just an epic choke job.
Proportions by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I think if youre Todd Bowles waking up this Morning, you’re looking around and thinking, How in the world did our defense put us in a Position like this?
How in the world would anyone in Tampa Bay Front office, and that defense itself be in a position to give up a two-score lead in the 4th Quarter?
And like, the defense absolutely deserves it.
Massive slice of the blame pie.
Baker Mayfield deserves a massive slice of the blame pie.
And he had the interception, which was bad throwa bad pick.
But also just a good, uh, play made by the defensive back.
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So, you hate to see that; that obviously gave the Falcons momentum.
But then, whenever youre in absolute put-up-or-shut-up time, You’re up 2 points in the 4th quarter, at a 1st-and-10 with 2.5 minutes to go.
And then Bucky Irving loses four yards.
Now you’re facing second and 14.
That throw to Emeka Ibuka was just a bad throw.
Like, yes, of course, Emeka Ibuka in that moment; he needs to come down with it.
But I’m not gonna put that on the rookie receiver.
I’m putting that squarely on the shoulders of Baker Mayfield.
And then you’re looking at third and 14, and Baker Mayfield takes a sack at a key moment You absolutely, positively cannot take a sack.
It was just an absolute crumbling of epic proportions in the 4th quarter by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.